Stockbridge’s Mayor Mark Alarcon announced last week at city hall a new partnership between the city, the Downtown Development Authority and Academy Theatre, the longest running professional theatre.

Academy Theatre will relocate from Avondale Estates to Stockbridge for a three-year public and private partnership.

Under this agreement, the theatre will provide both cultural and leisure services for Stockbridge such a main stage theatrical work, a theater for youth artists-in-school, an academy senior theater program, classes for youth and adults, an improv and short play festival and new play readings.

Alarcon said that when the city council and the authority were pursuing efforts to revitalize the downtown area, there was a commonality in opinions.

“When we were charged and found the opportunity [with Academy Theatre], everyone talked about how the youth don’t have anything to do after school,” he said. “We also talked about our seniors. This building is going to be for youth to senior services and everything else in between.”

J.T. Williams, authority chairman, said the partnership and the opportunity for the city to move forward in a new direction is exciting.

“[Academy Theatre] has been around a long time and done a phenomenal job,” he said.

Alarcon added that he is excited for the future and advancing the city.

“The value of what has happened today is just a major step in bringing this downtown development and city center together to give the citizens of Stockbridge a great place to live, work and play,” he said July 18.

The location of the theatre will be the former First State Bank Operations Center, purchased by the city in December.

Included in the 22,000-square-foot center will be a 250-seat theatre, a 99-seat black box theater, two community spaces, a digital computer lab, special events space, dance studio, art gallery and café.

Interesting phrase by Mayor Alarcon: “The value of what has happened today is just a major step in bringing this downtown development and city center together to give the citizens of Stockbridge a great place to live, work and play,” he said July 18.

Compare that to Vanessa Holiday's website: http://holidayformayor.com

My vision for the City of Stockbridge is to be a safe, thriving and inclusive community that is family-friendly, business friendly and economically sound. The vision includes a revitalization of the North Henry Corridor, the gateway to the City. We must capitalize on our assets; easy access to major freeways, and our prime location in the metro area. And our major investment will be in the citizens of Stockbridge. Giving each and every resident a feeling of pride, and making Stockbridge a great place to live, work and play.

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